Electrical control system

Abstract

An electrical control system includes a power supply circuit comprising a load. Further, the electrical control system includes a master node that is electrically coupled to the load via the power supply circuit. The master node includes a first power line communication interface and a first wireless communication interface. Furthermore, the electrical control system includes at least one slave node that is electrically coupled to the master node via the power supply circuit. The at least one slave node includes a second power line communication interface that is communicable with the first power line communication interface to send a first control signal to the master node through power line communication for controlling the load. The electrical control system further includes a controller that is wirelessly coupled to the master node to send a second control signal wirelessly to the master node for controlling the load.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system, comprising:
 a power line communication control loop comprising:
 a power supply circuit; 
 a master node electrically coupled to a load via the power supply circuit and capable of controlling the load; 
 a plurality of slave nodes electrically coupled to each other in series and electrically coupled to the master node via the power supply circuit in series to form the power line communication control loop,
 wherein each slave node of the plurality of slave nodes is capable of sending a first control signal to the master node for controlling the load, 
 wherein an input of the master node is connected to a hot line of the power supply circuit, 
 wherein the load is connected between a switched hot terminal of the master node and a neutral line of the power supply circuit, wherein the switched hot terminal is an output terminal of the master node, and 
 wherein a return line from the plurality of slave nodes is connected to the switched hot terminal of the master node; 
 
 a power line communication interface providing communication between each slave node of the plurality of slave nodes and the master node through the power supply circuit; and 
 a wireless communication interface providing communication between a controller and the master node, the master node capable of wirelessly receiving a second control signal from the controller for controlling the load. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the master node comprises a power line communication module and a wireless communication module. 
     
     
       3. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a radio frequency communication interface. 
     
     
       4. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one slave node of the plurality of slave nodes is configured as an in-wall mounted manually adjustable power switch. 
     
     
       5. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the master node, the plurality of slave nodes, and the controller comprises a user interface. 
     
     
       6. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is capable of wirelessly sending a third control signal to each slave node of the plurality of slave nodes. 
     
     
       7. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one slave node of the plurality of slave nodes is configured as an in-wall plug receptacle. 
     
     
       8. A method of controlling a load, comprising:
 providing a power line communication interface between a master node and a plurality of slave nodes that are electrically coupled to each other and the master node in series via a power supply circuit,
 wherein the master node is electrically coupled to and controls the load via the power supply circuit, 
 wherein the load is connected between a switched hot terminal of the master node and a neutral line of the power supply circuit, the switched hot terminal is an output terminal of the master node, and 
 wherein a return line from the plurality of slave nodes is connected to the switched hot terminal of the master node 
 
 providing a wireless communication interface between the master node and a controller; 
 sending a wireless control signal from the controller to the master node for controlling the load when the controller is manipulated; 
 sending a power line control signal from one or more of the plurality of slave nodes to the master node for controlling the load when the slave node is manipulated; and 
 controlling the load from the master node when the master node receives a user input, the wireless control signal, or the power line control signal. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of controlling a load of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication interface is a radio frequency communication interface. 
     
     
       10. The method of controlling a load of  claim 8 , wherein the power line control signal is transmitted in a loop voltage of the power supply circuit. 
     
     
       11. The method of controlling a load of  claim 8 , wherein the power line control signal is sent from one or more of the plurality of slave nodes to the master node when the line voltage of the power supply circuit has zero crossings.